Having suffered a sixth defeat in seven Premier League games this season and
an eighth in 10, Owen Coyle revealed his own personal desire to join his
players in their battle to avoid the indignity of relegation from the top
flight.

Taking charge: Owen Coyle is becoming increasingly frustrated as he tries to arrest Bolton's poor run of form.Photo: ACTION IMAGES

By Graham Clutton at the Liberty Stadium

11:17PM GMT 30 Oct 2011

A quip of course. At 45, Coyle’s playing days have long since given way to a life in the dugout. However, on the evidence of this latest, crushing blow, at the Liberty Stadium, Coyle’s Boltonside could well do with a large dollop of their manager’s deep-seated passion.

Yes, injuries are complicating the issue at the Reebok Stadium this term and Saturday’s decision by referee Mark Clattenburg to dismiss Ricardo Gardner for a second bookable offence, three minutes into the second half, merely compounded Coyle’s problems.

However, having ridden rough shod over similar troubles in recent years, the wheels of motion have come to a grinding halt in recent weeks. It is now six points from a possible 30 and 27 goals conceded compared with 13 scored. For Coyle, whose side take on Stoke City on Sunday before an early season six-pointer against West Bromat the Hawthorns, there is trouble at both ends. “I wish I was out there doing it myself rather than bellowing on the sidelines,” said Coyle.

“You try to make sure the guys you have in place on the pitch are big enough to take charge. That’s all you can do.”

After a goalless first half, the game was turned on its head in two crazy second half minutes. Gardner, who was booked in the first half, was dismissed for pulling back Nathan Dyer and from the ensuing free kick Joe Allen popped up to beat Jussi Jaaskelainen at his near post.

A 57th-minute penalty from Scott Sinclair compounded Bolton’s woes and though Danny Graham put through his own goal, 17 minutes from time, the £3 million striker repaid another significant chunk of his sizeable transfer fee with a fourth goal in as many games.

“We need to meet this head on and stand up and be counted,” said Coyle. There are no such worries for Brendan Rodgers, whose Swansea side take on Liverpool at Anfield on Saturday. Despite gaining a single point from a possible 15 away from the Liberty Stadium, Rodgers remains optimistic about his side’s chance of survival. He said: “We are going to Anfield with confidence high and we will have a right go at them.”